October Page Turner of the Month

Every month we like to highlight one of our superstar Page Turners. Our amazing October Page Turner of the Month has read a whopping twenty nine books since she first started in August.

our October Page Turner of the Month is…

Noshin Akhtar

Thank you Noshin!

You and Page Turners like you improve Words Alive programming by identifying diverse, engaging, and inspiring books that we can integrate into programming.

1) How did you get started with Words Alive?

I actually had no idea what Word Alive was until I joined the #CaliforniansforAll Summer of Service 2020 program to find a useful way to use my free time over the summer and as a means to help the world cope with COVID-19. I wanted to find a way to help people out while staying safe at home. Another concern for me was school. I didn't want to participate in something that would take away from my priorities. I knew I would read in my spare time like usual, and decided why not? If I could help people out at the same time as doing something I always do, it would definitely be a win-win situation for me.

2) What has been the best book you've read with Page Turners?

I loved a lot of books that I read, but I'd say my absolute favorite would be The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins simply because I have been anticipating the Hunger Games prequel ever since it was announced. In terms of books I was newly introduced to, my top three picks would be Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From by Jennifer De Leon, Jackpot by Nic Stone, and The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline.

3) Why did you start reading books with Page Turners and why do you continue?

As I mentioned before, it was actually not because I had previous experience with Words Alive, but because of hours I needed for the #CaliforniansforAll Summer of Service 2020 program and my high school community service requirements.  Once I found the Words Alive's Page Turners program, I knew instinctively that I needed to take part in this book-loving community. I love reading and decided that joining Page Turners would be like hitting not just two birds with one stone, but three! I would be getting hours, helping people out, and having fun while doing it! This was the perfect opportunity for an overenthusiastic bookworm like me!

4) How has reading books for Page Turners affected you?

I have been introduced to books I never would have heard of before -- and some of them became my favorites! It also helped me to get started on some books I had lying around the house that I could never find the time to get to. 

5) What city are you based in?

I'm up in Santa Clara, but I have loved the Los Angeles/San Diego area from a young age. I actually used to live there with my parents a long time ago for about a year or so when I was just a toddler. Some of my favorite places are there -- including Hollywood, Disneyland, and Universal Studios. 

Want to become a Page Turner? Click the button below:

Introducing Plot Twist: Stories From the Words Alive Community

Welcome to our new blog series, Plot Twist! Here, we'll be sharing the stories of people in the Words Alive community — stories of change, growth, and maybe a few surprising twists! We hope that through these stories, you'll get to know our community a little better and see the power of literacy come to life.

Meet Andrea Vazquez! She is one of our second-year Westreich Scholars and recently transferred to George Fox University in Oregon, where she studies sociology. We wanted to talk to Andrea about her educational journey so far and learn what it’s been like to start at a new school during the pandemic!

Andrea in her new dorm at George Fox University!

Andrea is 19 and first got involved with Words Alive through the Adolescent Book Group at Monarch School in her freshman year. Before she graduated, she applied for and received the Westreich Scholarship!

For her, the most rewarding part of being a Westreich Scholar was her mentor, Sonya. “We got along very well, and even though our lives were a little different, there was one common thing that we had, and it was that our parents just expected a lot more of us than we can give. It was really nice to be able to vent to someone who could completely understand me.” Sonya’s experience working in a school was valuable as Andrea explored options for her future: “We would go out to eat, and try to figure out what my major could be, what I could do with school, if I needed help with any of my essays.”

Andrea and her mentor Sonya in 2019.

Andrea began her college journey at a local school as a biology major, but over time, found that it wasn’t the path she wanted to pursue. “I realized that it’s not that I hate biology, but I was just doing it because my family wanted me to do it.” When she took a sociology class about the problems of society, she discovered a new passion. “It was just amazing. With the way I grew up, I feel like I could give back in a way with this degree.” 

“I was working and taking care of my family and going to school full time so that really took a toll on me.”

Back in her senior year of high school, Andrea was accepted to George Fox University but ended up turning the offer down. “I said no, because I needed to help my mom out. I felt bad leaving,” she says. But focusing on her schoolwork was difficult that first year. “I was working and taking care of my family and going to school full time so that really took a toll on me and I didn’t do so well in a lot of my classes.” When she received a letter from George Fox saying that she was still welcome on campus, she decided to take the opportunity to transfer. As she planned her move to Oregon, she told herself, “I guess we’ll see if it’s just me not being good in school, or if it’s my environment.” 

“It was my environment,” she concludes firmly, five weeks into the new school year. With more time and space to dedicate to her education, she is happy to report that her grades have improved. She pointed to a recent test as an example: “I just took a math test, and I’m not the best at math, and it really showed last year. But I actually got a B+ and I was really proud of myself! It made me realize that this year will be a lot easier than before.”

Still, it’s no small feat to change schools and move to a different state in the midst of a global pandemic. Many aspects of the quintessential college experience are missing, replaced by COVID restrictions. “I can’t leave my room to go shower without a mask on!” Andrea says, laughing. “I just expected to get sent home. I was really scared at first, because I thought it was just going to be taken away again, and my freshman year got taken away already.”

But she has no regrets about moving. “Obviously it gets stressful, but I can take all day and just focus on myself instead of focusing on other people and only having half an hour to myself to do homework, which is really, really awesome.” She loves the kind professors and the small class sizes at George Fox and is excited about the opportunity to reconnect with her faith at a Christian school.

A screenshot of Andrea from our Zoom call.

Andrea appreciates being able to keep in touch with Words Alive throughout this transition. “When I first moved in, [Jess, our Teen Services Program Director] was like, ‘How is it?’ and I was like, ‘You remembered!’ It’s been really nice to hear from people, and actually know that they’re listening to what I’m doing.”

Reflecting on what she’s learned about herself through this journey, Andrea spoke about the importance of self-care and prioritizing her education. “Putting myself first matters sometimes. In situations like this, this is my education that’s going to determine the rest of my life, so it’s important. It’s okay to be selfish.”

“Putting myself first matters sometimes. In situations like this, this is my education that’s going to determine the rest of my life, so it’s important. It’s okay to be selfish.”

In the future, she says, “I really want to help people and be able to give back to my community. Our world is really crappy right now, so I want to be able to help be the change for that.” One of her biggest goals is to be able to give back to Monarch School because of the difference caring, understanding teachers and adults made in her life as a student there.

Andrea, we’re so proud of you for taking this step towards reaching your goals. Congratulations on your transfer, and we can’t wait to see how you change the world in the future!

The Words Alive Reader: September 23, 2020

Welcome to The Words Alive Reader, a regular newsletter keeping you up-to-date with the latest in how we've been connecting children, teens, and families to the power of reading. What have we been up to and how can you help? Read on to find out!

This newsletter, in addition to our blog and social media content, is written by us, a cohort of volunteers! Do you love writing and have an interest in helping Words Alive create this type of content? We'd love your help! Email to learn more.

- Zoe, Eli and Titiksha, Words Alive Storytelling Team

SNEAK PEEK: 2020 Annual Authors Event!

Text that reads: "Annual Authors Event: Featuring Ayad Akhtar in conversation with Dr. Seth Lerer” above a photo of Ayad and the cover of his book Homeland Elegies

We're so thrilled to announce the author for this year's (virtual) Authors Event & Fundraiser: Pulitzer Prize-winning author and playwright, Ayad Akhtar! 

Be on the lookout for an invitation—with links to a very special Authors Auction and Mission Marketplace—coming to your inbox very soon!

Books for Lindsay Community School

A woman holding up books stands next to boxes of books in front of a painting of a woman and the words Lindsay Community School.

We have been working with Lindsay Community School, a school dedicated to helping pregnant and parenting teens, for our entire 20+ year history! We recently donated books to Lindsay and were so happy to receive this wonderful response from Dawn Miller, Head Teacher!

"The girls and their children were THRILLED - what a beautiful collection of books! So exciting to see the students reading with their babies and children...Cannot thank you enough for helping us bring a little bit of joy to our families in these heavy times."

If you would like to support more collaborations like this one, you can donate to Words Alive here! 

Hello From Our New Storytelling Intern!

A picture of Zoe.

"Hi everyone! My name is Zoe and I am the Storytelling Intern at Words Alive. I have loved reading for as long as I can remember, and I'm so excited to share that love with others by telling the Words Alive story! If you're reading this newsletter, you have a unique perspective to share on what Words Alive brings to the world, and I want to hear all about it. You can reach me at [email protected]!"

Zoe got involved with Words Alive as a volunteer, like many of you! If you currently volunteer with us, we encourage you to add your volunteer position to your LinkedIn profile. Showcase your leadership skills and help us reach more people at the same time!

#WriteNow

Colorful balls of tissue paper representing emotions spread upward from a gray silhouette of a person in profile.

To help teens cope and connect with current events, we’ve started #WriteNow, a collection of writing prompts that provide inspiration in this difficult time. This week, we challenge teens to write a story in just ten sentences, ask them to think about the emotions they’re dealing with right now, and encourage them to reflect on how they handle conflicts.

Check out our latest prompts:

1. 10-Sentence Story

2. Emotions in Common

3. A Call for Equity

Now in 9 Languages!

Text that reads: “Help us support literacy in families’ home languages!” above images of literacy resources in Spanish, Arabic, and Haitian Creole.

Words Alive is now providing resources for students and families in 9 different languages: English, Spanish, Farsi, Arabic, Haitian Creole, Burmese, Karen, Amharic, and Portuguese! We want to ensure that we are supporting and providing curriculum to families in their home languages.

Are you interested in helping even more families build healthy reading habits and skill sets? Volunteer as a translator for our Translation Station! To learn more, visit our website. 

Donate Here to Support Words Alive!

The Words Alive Reader: September 9, 2020

Welcome to The Words Alive Reader, a regular newsletter keeping you up-to-date with the latest in how we've been connecting children, teens, and families to the power of reading. What have we been up to and how can you help? Read on to find out!

This newsletter, in addition to our blog and social media content, is written by us, a cohort of volunteers! Do you love writing and have an interest in helping Words Alive create this type of content? We'd love your help! Email to learn more.

- Eli and Titiksha, Words Alive Volunteers

Back to School!

A young girl smiles and holds a backpack. Text above the photo reads, “Reagan got her Words Alive backpack! She is so excited!”

As schools begin to re-open, we want to remind you that Words Alive is here to help! Even through unprecedented challenges, we were able to serve 3,280 students and families last school year, and we will continue to do so while adapting our programming into virtual or hybrid models. 

One of our core values is responsiveness. We are dedicated to listening to community needs and developing innovative solutions. Would you like to help us as we journey into new adventures this school year? Sign up for one of our Virtual Best Practices Trainings to learn all the skills you need to volunteer in remote classrooms!

New Story Station Conductors!

Pictures of Sandy, Jim, and Gina reading aloud on Story Station!

We've been hosting Words Alive Story Station on Facebook Live every week day since the pandemic hit to spread joy, and engage our little learners with fun and inspiring stories that the whole family can enjoy. Now, we're happy to welcome new Story Station Conductors to our team!

Volunteers Sandy, Jim, and Gina are positive reading role models to the 10,000+ kids, families, and classrooms that viewed their Story Station videos in just their first week as Conductors. Join us for Story Station at 2 p.m. PT every weekday on Facebook Live: @WordsAliveSD.

Creative Collaborations!

A screenshot from of one of our Zoom trainings!

By the end of September, we will have trained seven community organizations to deliver the three Words Alive core programs! By providing training, curriculum, books, and supplies, we're making sure that organizations like United Way of San Diego, City Heights CDC, Project Concern International, Groundwork San Diego, Oceanside Public Library, and more are able to connect 300 students in their communities to the power of reading.

Another one of our values is collaboration and in these extraordinary times, we need to support one another more than ever. Help support our efforts to train even more organizations by donating today! 

The Life Cycle of a Page Turners Book

An infographic that displays the life cycle of a Page Turners book: from UNKNOWN to UPLIFTING. (1) a stack of books with a question mark; (2) a girl reading (3) a girl typing at her laptop (4) a girl hugging a stack of books.

Since January, our volunteer-led, ever-growing Page Turners community has helped us identify a whopping 28 books that reflect our students' lived experiences to include in Words Alive programming. How does it work?

1. A new and promising book is brought to our attention.

2. Page Turners read and let us know if it's a good fit for our students.

3. Books that receive multiple glowing reviews are passed on to our Curriculum Crew, volunteers who produce high-quality curriculum guides for the book.

4. Curriculum is taught in partner schools and sites, introducing students to empowering, entertaining, and engaging books that they can relate to, igniting their love of reading and setting them up for success!

Want to join the Page Turners community? Sign up here! 

Donate Here to Support Words Alive!

The Words Alive Reader: August 26, 2020

Welcome to The Words Alive Reader, a regular newsletter keeping you up-to-date with the latest in how we've been connecting children, teens, and families to the power of reading. What have we been up to and how can you help? Read on to find out!

This newsletter, in addition to our blog and social media content, is written by us, a cohort of volunteers! Do you love writing and have an interest in helping Words Alive create this type of content? We'd love your help! Email us to learn more.

- Eli and Titiksha, Words Alive Volunteers

Help Us Give Learning Kits to Children & Families!

A woman holds up a backpack in front of a young child.

“Miss Ana is giving me books to learn.”  An 8-year-old participating in Words Alive programs through our partnership with  City Heights CDC and United Way of San Diego scribbled that short, powerful message in their journal. 

Distance learning is providing challenges for teachers, parents, and students in different ways. Before the pandemic, 94% of public school teachers spent their own money on classroom supplies and now, some children are at home attempting to learn with few to no books or supplies around them.

Words Alive is here to help students, parents, and teachers all at the same time! Our Learning Kits are stocked with the tools students need to succeed: pens and pencils, stationary, scissors, and, of course, brand-new books. It takes just $125 to fund one Learning Kit for a child. If you’d like to help level the playing field for a child, donate here!

More Than 200 Page Turners?!

275 book reviews, 1141 hours volunteered, 28 new books added to curriculum, 229 Page Turners, and 177 reviews in progress!

We launched Page Turners last fall so that our Words Alive community could help us find new, diverse books to read with our students. Since then, over 200 volunteers have joined Page Turners, allowing us to add 28 new books to our programming!

Are you interested in joining a community of passionate readers who are helping us read and review titles? Click here to sign up to read a book!

We Could Use Your Help!

Dozens of cardboard boxes with the Words Alive logo.

To meet the changing needs of children, teens, and families because of the pandemic, we are looking for some specific (donated) expertise and thought you might be able to help:

1. Individuals interested in mentoring first-generation college students for the upcoming school year. In addition to general interests, to help meet needs of specific Scholars we're also seeking professionals with work experience in graphic design, the criminal justice system, or based in Portland, OR. 

2. Pro-bono services from legal and public relations firms

3. App developers or website designers

4. Large, vacant storage unit (or garage) on the ground floor where we can accept, sort, and redistribute book donations safely on an ongoing basis 

If you, or someone you know, is able to volunteer or donate in any of these ways let us know!

Join our Mission Marketplace!

A hand holding a heart filled with books above the words “Support small businesses!”

We know that, now more than ever, it's essential to support the small business owners in our community. If you own a business, restaurant, or even an Etsy store you can team up with Words Alive for our Mission Marketplace! We will promote your business throughout the month of October (or another timeframe that works for you!) in exchange for a portion of proceeds being donated to Words Alive in support of our mission. Win-win!

If you'd like to learn more about the Mission Marketplace, email us here!

Donate Here to Support Words Alive!

September Page Turner of the Month

Every month we like to highlight one of our superstar Page Turners. Our awesome September Page Turner has read a whopping seventeen books since she first started in July. Six of the books she read have already been chosen for curriculum thanks to her insightful reviews! Such books include Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds and The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson.

our September Page Turner of the Month is…

Anika Mehra

Here is a little bit about myself: I started reading books with Page Turners because books have always been a source of comfort for me, and so I was excited to have this way of helping others find this love for reading as well. The best books I have read for Page Turners so far have been Educated by Tara Westover and The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman.

Thank you Anika! You and Page Turners like you improve Words Alive programming by identifying diverse, engaging, and inspiring books that we can integrate into programming.

The Words Alive Reader: August 12, 2020

Welcome to The Words Alive Reader, a regular newsletter keeping you up-to-date with the latest in how we've been connecting children, teens, and families to the power of reading. What have we been up to and how can you help? Read on to find out!

This newsletter, in addition to our blog and social media content, is written by a cohort of volunteers! Do you love writing and have an interest in helping Words Alive create this type of content? Email Robyn, our Volunteer Coordinator. 

#GreatSanDiegoBookGiveaway

An image of a young child wearing a face mask and holding up a sign that says “I’m a Summer Super Reader!”

If you're reading this newsletter, you probably know that books are essential in supporting a young child's growth. We also know that too many children from underserved communities in San Diego are at home without books of their own during this pandemic. Words Alive, the Molina Foundation, the San Diego Council on Literacy, and the San Diego Public Library all came together this past week for The Great San Diego Book Giveaway, a campaign that resulted in 325 families (all of whom participated this spring in the remote version of our programming) taking home brand-new books for the entire family to enjoy!

Learn more about the event here on our blog and donate to help children and families build their home libraries!

Readers in the Heights

An image of Readers in the Heights resources: a book, reading guide, and craft supplies.

For the 5th year in a row, we’ve partnered with United Way of San Diego for Readers in the Heights, a collaborative effort between multiple San Diego organizations to engage families in weekly literacy and self-expression activities to help prevent the summer slide. This year, the program is more important than ever due to COVID-19 and the learning losses expected from transitions to distance learning. This is exactly why we’ve partnered with the staff from the Karen Organization and City Heights CDC to deliver our tested programming to families. 

Even more exciting! Programming is taking place in five languages including Karen and Burmese. Do you want to help us translate our resources into different languages? Take a look at our new virtual volunteer opportunities!​

Upcoming (Virtual) Events:

Celebrating 100 Days of Words Alive Story Station! Watch on Facebook Live @WordsAliveSD every day at 2 pm PT/5 pm ET.

Special Novel Ideas Tour!

Join us for a behind-the-scenes tour of our Novel Ideas interactive online gallery on Tues, 8/18 from 3:00-3:30 p.m. Sign up here. 

100th Day of Story Station!

TOMORROW marks the 100th day of Story Station! We have been hosting daily read alouds since the pandemic hit to spread joy, and engage our little learners with fun and inspiring stories. In July alone, Story Station reached 38,000+ people! Join us for our 100th Story Station at 2 p.m. PT tomorrow, August 12th, on Facebook Live. ​​​​​​​

Trending on #QuaranTEENS:

#QuaranTEENS: Prompts to cope with COVID & lessons from the news.

Top stories and activities trending this week on #QuaranTEENS, our online platform helping teens navigate and cope with the COVID-19 crisis and distance learning through reading and writing:

1. Pandemic Podcast

2. The Coronavirus in Six Words

3. Just Breathe

Donate Here to Support Words Alive!

Thank you, Scatena Daniels!

Scatena Daniels is a San Diego-based PR firm that helps companies and organizations showcase why what they do matters. As it says on their website:

We believe your story matters. We'll tell your story in a way that resonates with your ideal customers and leaves a lasting impression.

Words Alive was thrilled to be selected for Scatena Daniels’s The Resilience Project. As COVID-19 hit our communities, Scatena Daniels was at the forefront supporting their philanthropy-focused clients as they worked hard to serve the San Diego County community. They recognized the need for non-profits to adjust their operations during “stay-at-home” orders, and recognized that they could help.

The Resilience Project was a scholarship program providing up to five (5) hours of strategic guidance with a high-level plan as a takeaway. Their hope was to find organizations that have a true spirit of resilience. We are beyond thankful that they chose Words Alive!

Over the past few months, we’ve been meeting with the team from Scatena Daniels, introducing them to Words Alive and talking through the challenges we’ve faced with is comes to communications, PR, and media. We are so thrilled with the high-level strategic communications plan they’ve delivered to us. With this plan, we know we can spread the word about Words Alive far and wide meaning we can connect even more children, teens, and families to the power of reading.

Thank you, Scatena Daniels, for your incredible support of Words Alive and the entire San Diego community.

If you are, or if you know of an PR professionals looking to volunteer time to a great cause, please email us!

The Great San Diego Book Giveaway!

An image of a young child wearing a face mask and holding up a sign that says “I’m a Summer Super Reader!”

Reading books over the summer is one of the most impactful ways children can nurture a love of stories and maintain their reading skills while out of school. We also know that too many children from underserved communities in San Diego are at home during the pandemic without books of their own to explore. But we can do something about that! 

Words Alive collaborated with the San Diego Public Library, the San Diego Council on Literacy, and the Molina Foundation to get books into the hand of children who need them this summer. The San Diego Council on Literacy and the Molina Foundation facilitated a book donation of 3,000 books to Words Alive. This past week, we hosted three Touchless Book Giveaway events at San Diego Public Library branches and ensured that 325 families (all of whom graduated from the remote version of our Family Literacy Program this spring) had books to build their home libraries.

We couldn’t be more thankful to the community partners who made this wonderful event possible, and we’re so incredibly excited for the children who will enjoy such wonderful books this summer!

Page Turner of the Month: August 2020

Page Turners are a HUGE help to Words Alive. You help us identify diverse, engaging, and inspiring books to include in our curriculum! In thanks, we have decided to celebrate a Volunteer of the Month to show our appreciation. In August, our first-ever Page Turner of the Month is…

Jazmyn!

Jazmyn has read and reviewed nine books for Page Turners, and is in the process of reading two more! Two of the books she's read have already been migrated to our Adolescent Book Group Curriculum. We asked Jazmyn some questions about her time as a Page Turner:

What has been the best book you've read with Page Turners?

Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed

Why did you start reading books with Page Turners and why do you continue?

I needed service hours for the National Junior Honor Society and I love reading and realized once my service time ended, I still wanted to keep on reading these books taking myself out my comfort zone with some of the topics/genres I was reading.

How has being a Page Turner helped you?

It's given me access to books I never would have thought of and forced me to think about things I can change going on in my world.

You can sign up to become a Page Turner right here!